SALISBURY — You won’t want to miss an inspiring night filled with performances by Wicomico County’s rising artists. On Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., local middle and high school students will be combining their talents to perform the annual Classics for a Cause concert at the historic St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury. Classics for a Cause, which consists of instrumentalists, singers and dancers, is held every fall to raise funds for Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council’s (SWAC) arts donations programs, including giving free instruments to music students in need. Classics for a Cause is a showcase of talented youth, produced by the youth themselves to give back to other youth and to the arts.

About SWAC and their mission:

Founded in 1967, SWAC was the first arts council in the state of Maryland. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to promoting, funding, developing, and advocating for artistic opportunities in our community. SWAC is recognized as a leader in the arts at local, state, and national levels, supporting the rich diversity of artists and artistic experiences for all. As best explained by SWAC Executive Director Therese Hamilton, “Our goal is to bring the arts to the people, and to bring the people to the arts.”

What SWAC does:

• Develops arts awareness through educational programs and community outreach
• Promotes artistic experiences and opportunities for a variety of ages and cultures
• Facilitates communication among local artists and organizations to establish our community as a vital cultural center
• Provides funding through grants and scholarships to help support local art projects and arts education

The Story of Classics for a Cause:

Classics for a Cause was started in 2013 by Kieran Murphy and Kaya Manizade, two thoughtful and talented high school young men. They came to SWAC with a plan to begin a concert to raise funds for SWAC’s instrument donation program, saying, “We have been fortunate to have music lessons in our lives, but others have not; we want to give back.” From the first concert with just themselves, Classics for a Cause has, over the years, grown to include almost 60 performers and has raised more than $30,000.

Important information:
• When: Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.
• Where: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 115 St. Peters St., Salisbury
• Tickets can be purchased at getswac.org/tickets.php:
• Children ages 4-12: $7 (under 4 are free)
• Students ages 13-22: $11
• Seniors ages 60 and up, SWAC Members, and Veterans: $14
• Adults: $17

Thank you to SWAC Executive Director Therese Hamilton, SWAC Vice President and Classics SWAC Chair Luba Paskova, performers Sophia Allan, Claire Cha, Bornil Das, Peyton Ford, Charlotte Haskell, Erin Jeon, Peter Jin, Angela Quan, Kaden Selph, Ethan Seman, Shohag Sen, Avalai Swinehart, Greyson Williams, Julianna Wooden, and the Salisbury Children’s Choir under the direction of Alice Wigfield, for their contributions to the arts in this evening of music.